Soviet Propaganda Spotter

THANKS to the Library's extensive Collection of current Russian publications and the presence on the faculty of John N. Washburn '45, who is trained to recognize the ways that the Soviet propaganda mills find their grist, examples of anti-American distortion are being spotted in Hanover and called to the attention of editors and the government.

In the adjacent column is a good case study. It is a reproduction of a picture of a football play that appeared originally in Parade, the newspaper supplement. Reprinted May 1 in Sovetskii Sport, a Moscow newspaper devoted to sports, it was used to illustrate the current Soviet theme that American athletics are being "militarized." Dr. Washburn called this to the attention of Parade, which in its November 30 issue carried an account of Dr. Washburn's discovery and his translation of the Russian caption placed under the picture.

Dr. Washburn, who is Instructor in Russian Language and Literature, acted upon his conviction that only through the vigilance and cooperation of men who are trained in Russian subjects and propaganda techniques will the "Reds be caught red-handed." In his words, "The American press is closely scanned in the Soviet Union by Communist editors in their present 'Hate America' campaign. Photographs, cartoons and advertisments, as well as straight news, are filched from dozens of American magazines and newspapers and are worked over until they dovetail into the Party line toward the United States. Distortion becomes an art in Moscow editorial offices. What can we do about combating this distortion? Let us have universities cooperate with the press and government to present to the American public many more concrete examples of Soviet propaganda techniques. Let us have more students of Russian and Russian Civilization."

Following is Dr. Washburn's translation of the Communist propaganda twisted from the Parade photograph:

"In the photo from the American magazine Parade (a supplement to the newspaper St. Louis Post-Dispatch) is imprinted a moment in the 'game' of socalled 'American football.'

" 'The real task of American sports consists in the training of youth for war,' says Eisenhower. This statement of the inveterate war-monger needs no better illustration.

"With what bitterness and spite is this 'one hundred per cent American' charging ahead. Here it is easier for him than in Korea. And, clutching in his hand an egg-shaped ball that resembles a bomb, he strides fiercely over the heads of his less fortunate fellow-countrymen.

"The face of the fallen player is distorted by pain and bestial fear. The familiar look of a rapist and murderer. Where have you seen this face, comrade?

"Fascism is rearing its head, and we recognize its monstrous features."

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